The unit is comprised of ~40 volunteers, who literally come from all walks of life. They regularly leave their jobs (or in the middle of the night, their warm beds) to respond to a call for help. They also do not receive remuneration for time given to search and rescue. The members make up a small, but spirited, group of mountaineers who spend one weekend each month training to sharpen their rescu
e skills. Each member must provide all of his own equipment at a cost of more than $2,500. Beside acting as a highly competent rescue workers, members also work closely with school, clubs, church groups, and Scout troops throughout the area to teach mountain safety. The ounce of prevention may well prevent the untimely pound of cure. In September of 1961 six men formed the 100% volunteer Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit. In a very short time the unit was tested and approved for membership in the national Mountain Rescue Association. Then in January of 1964 the unit was incorporated and granted non-profit status by the state and federal governments. The Unit began very modestly, it owned nothing! Through the hard work of founding members, their wives and friends, equipment was slowly purchased. The Unit was given a used panel truck and the members worked many long hours preparing it for search and rescue. That first year saw a total of seven mission and a working budget of less than $200. The Unit now averages better than 40 mission a year and needs $1,250 per month to run it growing operation. The Unit can modestly boast of saving over 500 lives since it’s beginning in 1961. This lifesaving work is made possible by RMRU’s Sustaining Members and the money they contribute each year. What is a life worth. The Unit believes that no expense should be spared to save the life of an unfortunate victim and in many cases it takes costly and precisely made: litters, first aid gear, climbing ropes, hardware, radio equipment and rescue vans to make a successful rescue out of a potential tragedy.
